I know it was said before, but how cool is that! Glad you have it back...awesome you've wasted no time getting on it!
2 big atta-boys and a congats.... now bring it back to life and pound the crap out of it. That's what it was built for in the first place
A, B, C, & D would have been referred to as "upper" class (closer to the beginning of the alphabet), D,E,F,G,H,I etc. "lower" class. Our '56 originally ran on the heavy end of D/Gas & was moderately competitive. Then 600 lbs was added to make the light end of E/Gas (3800 lbs. with a 283), and the car was very competitive and held the E/Gas record a number of times. During these years it was a full bodied car (minus the front bumper for ease of flat towing) & full interior with lots of ballast to get it to 3800#, so a lighter straight axle front end would have been counter productive & money wasted.
Sweet!!!! Awesome to see and even better to see it cleaned up. I would have done exactly the same thing immediately!! Good for you and your friends. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The Gas class was an umbrella - under that were A/G and on down to ?/G, depending on your cubic inch to weight ratio. Obviously the less weight and more cubes, the higher the class - A being the highest. My '55 with a .030" over 265 ran in E/G. The blown cars were designated A/GS and later AA/G on down. as my memory serves me... Vic
That is just insane cool! The guy around the corner when I was growing up in Memphis had a 55 gasser front tilt cap all welded steel, roll bar and $100 taped to the dashboard. The epitome of cool, never forget that car and how it let me down this this path to ruin. You're lucky sumbitch!
Arnie , That 55 is looking GOOD ! GREAT JOB ! Concerning the front bumper removal in a couple of previous post, as I remember it in the 1960s I ran a 56 chev in Modified Production with front bumper removed...The exception was if motor was moved back 10% you went into a GAS class. STOCK class > bumper required. M/P class> bumper could be removed, original engine location. GAS class > Bumper optional & engine could be moved back 10% (or not),but the engine set back mandated you ran GAS class. My 56 (bumperLESS ran C/MP and I'd drop to D/Gas if I opted to run Gas class that day (although engine wasn't set back) April 4, 1964 ,Tri State Drag Strip > Bumperless, Ford truck scoop, tach on the dash & "Hollywood" 5 spokes. My first drag race (on a drag strip), won C M/P & Little Eliminator >those were the days, Ah, sweet memories. . Before somebody chimes in that it looks like we raced on dirt this picture was on the return lane.>Kicking up a little dust with the "Plumbers Caps" removed from the Heddman headers.
I have a strong suspicion that Tom has a very clear image in his mind of what the car should look like when it is done. After all, it used to be his!
I have been cheering for Tom over the past four years. I had heard of his desire to get the car back even before he started this thread. I was very pleased when he announced he was getting it back last fall. But I was also pretty bummed when I saw him put the High Times Crosley dragster for sale. I had a hunch he was doing so to finance the build of this car. I was in Tom's house when he was agonizing over the opportunity to buy High Times and tried to give him as much encouragement as I could. Was that about six years ago Just this afternoon, I received notice that my injected/blown 327 was finally done at the engine builders. After four years! I wish Ray Dixon would have lived to finish it, but it was done by David and will always have a bit of Ray inside. We were sitting at AutoFest in Madison with the Patriot Funny Car today deciding where that engine needed to go. First choice was a 55 gasser, second was an early Nova with straight axle. I have a Pontiac/Olds rear axle from a 56 Chevy and a race built B/W Super T-10 on the shelf, so the 55 Chevy was going to be the dream. I get home from the show, jump on the HAMB and discover that Lil Tantrum has been for sale for over six hours! I sent a PM, then left voicemail. Between the opportunity to buy this car and the Badger BB game, I was a nervous wreck. When Tom called, I was sure the car had been sold. Sort of. He had a promise made to hold it for an out-of-State fellow to arrive tomorrow. Of course he should honor that commitment. He decided to keep his focus on High Times, so he was going to let Lil' Tantrum go. Now I am really cranked up! A couple hours later, just as the Badgers secured a victory, Tom called back. The wife said no, so the other guy was backing out. Lil' Tantrum was mine! I am hoping Tom will give me permission to continue with the name and lettering style. He will have the opportunity to pilot the car when finished. A mutual friend will provide much of the skill to put this together. What a great day for me!
The Jalopy Journal
